Specklagen and Speck. Architectural innovation and culinary engineering in the Panemunė Castle kitchen (1600-1700s)

Abstract

This study examines the architectural design and equipment of the kitchen in Panemunė Castle, Lithuania, attributed to the Dutch-Baltic architect Peter Nonhardt (c.1550-1633). Panemunė castle is a notable example of Dutch Renaissance architectural influence, evidenced by its façades adorned with characteristic specklagen. A key focus of this investigation is the castle’s kitchen, which, unusually for its time in  Lithuania, was integrated into the castle structure itself. This design followed contemporary European architectural trends of the late sixteenth century, employing a three-part configuration consisting of a kitchen area, a bakery, and a workroom. In the eighteenth century, the kitchen was relocated and expanded. Through a multidisciplinary approach – incorporating archaeological evidence, masonry analysis, and archival documentation – the evolution of the kitchen’s architectural form and functionality is examined in the context of broader European developments in kitchen design. This analysis contributes to the understanding of the transmission of architectural innovations from Western Europe to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, highlighting the role of Nonhardt in this process.